Fubara Replies Presidency, Denies Links To Militants

The suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has denied allegations linking him to militant groups behind recent attacks on oil installations in the state.

Fubara’s response came after the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, claimed that security reports showed that militants answerable to the suspended governor were behind the sabotage of oil pipelines in the state.

But speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, on Monday, Fubara dismissed the allegations as baseless.

In the indirect response to Onanuga, Fubara stressed that he has no connections with any militant group and does not support criminal activities in Rivers or the Niger Delta region.

“Our attention has, once again, been drawn to a flurry of malicious, fake and imaginary videos of purported explosions on oil and gas facilities in Rivers State,” the statement reads.

“Virtually all the fake videos have been linked to alleged militant groups in the State, with the creators of such content trying very hard to connect them to supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

“Already, the communities where these incidents are alleged to have occurred have reacted, dismissing any claims of explosions on oil and gas facilities in their domains, and reassuring that all critical government assets within their areas are safe, secure and efficiently functioning.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has no link to any militant group, does not contemplate any such association, and has no reason to encourage any criminal group or elements, anywhere in the state or Niger Delta, to undertake any action inimical to the peace of the people or safety and security of oil and gas facilities, and by extension, the economy of the country.

“The governor had repeatedly made it clear at every public event that the peace of the state is paramount to him, and that he would pay any price to secure and sustain peace in the state, as it is only in an atmosphere of peace and security that governance and development can thrive.

“Governor Fubara vehemently warns purveyors of violence and economic sabotage to steer clear of the state and avoid any attempt to use his name or capitalise on the present political crisis to foment trouble in the state,” the statement read.

Last week, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months.

The president hinged his actions on the ongoing political crisis in the state. The emergency rule was subsequently approved by the National Assembly.

In defence of the emergency rule, Onanuga claimed that intelligence confirmed militants were mobilised and awaiting Fubara’s signal to attack oil facilities and disrupt oil production in the country.

“Intelligence confirmed militants, told by Fubara to await signals, were already targeting pipelines, risking a collapse in output and a Niger-Delta domino effect,” Onanuga alleged.

The presidential aide stated that Tinubu’s intervention was necessary to prevent economic sabotage and ensure stability in the region.

Fubara Replies Presidency, Denies Links To Militants is first published on The Whistler Newspaper